Jeff Horn dog drama: Happy end to heartless crime

UPDATE: A professional boxer, who trains with Jeff Horn, has been reunited with his beloved seven-month-old blue staffordshire terrier after the pup was stolen on Christmas Day.

Sam Banney was in the South Bank IGA buying bacon and eggs for Christmas Day when he came out to find his dog, Pilot, gone.

But after an exhaustive search of the neighbourhood and a social media post that was shared more than 20,000 times, Pilot was tracked down when one online user reportedly said she'd spotted the dog at her neighbour's home.

Pilot was part of a litter from Horn's dog Lexie.

Sam Banney said he agreed to take one of Lexie's pups if Horn won his fight against Manny Pacquiao.

Sam Banney with Pilot, who was stolen on Christmas Day.

The 28-year-old Kangaroo Point resident said his stomach dropped when he came out of the shop and saw the dog's lead lying there.

"It was just the worst feeling seeing that lead there with no dog, it was just heart breaking," he said.

Jeff Horn with Sam Banney.

"I knew straight away he had been stolen - the lead had been unclipped.

"I just dropped all of my groceries and started running up the streets calling her name."

From talking to police and other dog owners Mr Banney said he feared Pilot had been stolen to be used in illegal dog fights.

"He's afraid of chickens so he'd be no good to anyone for dog fighting," he said.

Pictures: Supplied

Spending most days training means Mr Banney doesn't have much of a social life. "He (Pilot) came everywhere with me, my partner in crime … it was just me and him for Christmas this year," he said.

Sam Banney with Pilot.

There were CCTV cameras in operation but the footage was only secured yesterday due to public holidays.